Gilbert Toyne

Who was Gilbert Toyne?

Gilbert Toyne Australian inventor.

Gilbert Toyne was born at Darriwill, Victoria, Australia and trained as a blacksmith, wheelwright and farrier. He went on to invent, patent and market four rotary clothes hoist designs in Australia. His most significant invention was the classic 1925 all-metal rotary clothes hoist design.

As one of 13 children and the large amount of resulting laundry, Toyne realised early on the need for an improved clothes line design. In 1911 with fellow blacksmith Lambert Downey, he patented ‘Improvements in clothes hoists and the like’. Together they established the Aeroplane Clothes Hoist Company, with an office in Queen Street, Melbourne. A family relative, Henry William Barnes, became involved in the company. To help manufacture, promote and reduce the price of Toyne’s clothes hoists, Barnes established the Aeroplane Hoist Manufacturing Company of Australasia Limited on 13 August 1913. This business acquired the assets of the previous company.

The Toyne rotary clothes hoist was marketed at state agricultural shows and interstate agents were sought. Some of the advantages of the rotary clothes hoist listed in promotional material were the ‘quick drying powers, due to the revolving lines; saving in labour, due to clothes being hung from one position; less strain on the cloth; economy of ground space; and durability, as with proper treatment the “Aeroplane” should last forever.